Microtubules in protozoan cells. III. Ultrastructural changes during disintegration and reformation of heliozoan microtubules.

In the heliozoan, Echinosphaerium nucleofilum strain MA, cold temperature (2 degrees C) induced axopodial retraction to about 36% of the initial length after 3 h. By electron microscopy, it was found that such axopodial shortening is accompanied by degradation of axonemal microtubules (25 nm in diameter), followed by the appearance of macrotubles (37 nm in diameter) and filamentous structures (14 nm in diameter) of a tubular and twisted appearance. All of these structures (microtubules, macrotubules and filamentous structures) were found to be depolymerized completely by applying 10 mM colchicine for 1-2 h, and to be replaced by regions with low electron density. Axopodial re-extension was induced rapidly by returning the cold-treated organisms to room temperature (20 degrees C). At a very early stage of axopodial re-extension, the filamentous structures were often observed to be continuous with the macrotubules. At a late stage of axopodial re-extension, the reforming axoneme was composed only of normal microtubules, while the macrotubules and filamentous structures had disappeared. On the basis of these results, the processes of disintegration and reformation of microtubules are discussed.